DAVID WELLS

1972 - 2023

WELLS--David Murray. (1972-2023). David Murray Wells left this world suddenly on February 11, 2023 at home surrounded by his family. David excelled at so many things throughout his life, particularly writing, storytelling, communicating to large audiences and also reporting on events unfolding during difficult times. While working as a television and news reporter for Bloomberg News, David stayed on the air all day on September 11, 2001 to report the devastation and loss. David was born in Austin, TX to Roger Murray Wells, a chemical engineer and executive at Radian International, and Kathleen Anne Wells, a registered nurse and loving mother. David was one of three siblings: Julie Anne Swoap and Kevin Michael Wells were very close throughout his life. David and Murray, his father, shared an incredible friendship, they were literally cut from the same cloth. The Wells Family believed in living life to the fullest, which left an imprint on David throughout his life. From an early age, David was a curious, intelligent and avid reader and writer. As a sportsman, there were many areas where David excelled and swimming and football were some of his first passions. In 1987, at the age of fifteen, David traveled to several parts of the Soviet Union, Minsk and Vilnius as a student ambassador. This experience, in addition to many trips with his father and family around the world fueled David's immense appetite for adventure and world travels. David was a part of National Outdoor Leadership during his senior year of university in 1995, which provided a tremendous opportunity to live briefly in Lamu and many parts of Kenya on the Maasai Mara. In the last weeks, David sailed at sea on a dhow with a crew of students and guides and also completed a trek to climb Mount Kenya. He spoke so fondly of all these rich experiences throughout his life. David attended Texas Christian University where he studied political science and literature. While at TCU, he met his future wife Tanya Sridaromont in 1993. David and Tanya were together from that moment on, for the next thirty years. They married in 1997, creating an incredible life together living in New York, London, Oxfordshire and West Texas in the summers. David began his career working as a speechwriter for a Texas based political strategist. He was accepted to The University of Texas at Austin into the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, where he completed a Masters Degree in history and economics. David thrived during this time and cherished the many friendships made with fellow students and faculty. In 2012 he joined the advisory board with LLILAS and University of Texas and maintained that role for more than a decade David also worked with The Business Council of Sustainable Development during the first stages of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). A career in journalism beckoned and in 1997 David joined the reporting team of Petroleum Argus, a provider of pricing and trade information about oil, crude, petrochemicals- and all tiers of the energy market. David savored the new role and met lifelong friends who would join him on the media stage in New York. With a move to Bloomberg News in 1998, David and his wife Tanya began their east coast chapter. David possessed a sharp mind and a quick wit. He rose through the ranks of Bloomberg in television and wire reporting for both the stocks and investment banking teams. In his spare time, David contributed to NPR Marketplace and created a series of networking evenings lovingly called "mafia parties." Those nights ensured that if you knew one of David's friends, you probably knew many. The Financial Times brought David to London in 2006 to serve as a news editor for the World News Desk under the then editor-in-chief, Lionel Barber. His time with the "pink newspaper" provided the opportunity for David to establish his long-form, investigative reporting and sit with the elite team of editors who shaped the newspaper each day. His instincts for knowing which stories mattered was tested and proven. David embraced fatherhood completely with the arrival of his beloved daughters Marin in 2005 and Violet in 2011. Being a father came naturally to David. He treasured teaching his girls simple tasks, being outdoors and talking to them about life and what matters to them. He also enjoyed coaching his daughter's softball teams and serving in several board roles at The Brick Church. David could also be found taking long walks through the countryside and Hampstead Heath, visiting with friends over dinners, and playing golf and cricket. David's career evolved from journalism to important roles in communications and marketing at two large investment banks. David felt that once the media business became a twenty four hour news cycle, he wanted to watch it unfold. While at JP Morgan Chase, David witnessed the collapse of Lehman Brothers; this experience brought a maturity to his work. David's tenure at Goldman Sachs began in 2010 as a spokesperson and managing director for the executive office and culminated in the role of Chief Marketing Officer for the Investment Management Division. In 2019 David joined the leading marketing and communications firm Prosek Partners advising many different industries. Agency life gave David the chance to soar. He had an unwavering moral compass that ensured he was always close to leaders and those guiding the conversations. The stories David told are the stuff of legends that were honest and funny with a healthy dose of wit. His comments and insight could ignite and energize a conversation or silence a detractor. He truly cared about his colleagues, friends and family. His grace and charm were delightful. David leaves behind a legacy of friends and family near and far which include his beloved wife and soulmate Tanya, dearest daughters, Marin Hen-Lee and Violet Freya. He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Anne Wells, sister Julie Anne Swoap, brother Kevin Michael Wells (Barbi Wells), nieces Anja Elizabeth, Abigail Anne, and Alicia Grace Swoap, Emily Catherine Wells; and nephews Jacob and Caleb Wells. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Roger Murray Wells. Parents-in-law Somkid and Kathryn Sridaromont. Memorial contributions can be made to The Morgan Library and Museum, The Brick Presbyterian Church and University of Texas at Austin. Services to be held at The Brick Presbyterian Church on March 9, 2023 at 10:00am.